engel and his crew escaped out of the van. said literally help us, we're american journalists get us to safety. the rebels involved did just that. it was on a road similar to that engel and his crew were taken by gunpoint what they presume to be pro-government, pro-president assad forces, shiite militia members holding them. during the time they were being held they were told it was very awful situation. they endured mocks executions. a number of threats what would happen to the men. martha, this isn't -- is the best way this story could end. one american still missing in that country. martha: everybody is very thankful this delled the way it did, leland t said a lot what is changing on the ground in syria. they believed they were traveling in rebel-held territory but obviously they were not. what is the latest there? >> reporter: well, this is an insurgency civil war. not only do you have the army fighting. you have all the pro-assad militias and you have the rebels. it appears the momentum has changed. it used to be the gove